Facts of the Persecution of Dafa Practitioners in Suizhou City, Hubei Province During the Past Four Years

May 18, 2003

4/2/2003

(Clearwisdom.net)

According to Suizhou City government statistics during June of 1999, there
were several thousand people practicing Falun Gong locally. Over 90% of them had
recovered from illnesses or experienced improved health after practicing Falun
Gong. After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, there were still many Falun Gong practitioners who persisted in cultivation. Since then,
these practitioners have consistently and diligently clarified the truth to
people in peaceful and rational ways. The total number of practitioners who went
to Beijing to appeal reached several hundred.

During the past three years, more than one hundred Dafa practitioners were
detained by the Suizhou local "610 Office" [an agency specifically created to
persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in
the Party and all other political andjudiciary systems.]. Many of
them had been detained multiple times, even up to five or six times. Two
practitioners were tortured to death. One of them died of torture in prison,
another went on a hunger strike to protest the persecution, and shortly after
being released in critical condition, died in the hospital. Twenty-seven people
were illegally sentenced to forced labor camps, with three of them being
sentenced twice. To date, thirteen people are still being detained in prisons or
forced labor camps. One person's situation is still unknown, after having been
taken away by the police on July 20, 1999. One was fired from a government
position because he went to Beijing to appeal. Police and work units have
pressured family members of Falun Gong practitioners. Nine were pressured into
divorce. Six were forced to leave home to avoid further persecution. To our
knowledge, at least thirty-two people have been extorted of money, with the
total amount being around 102,010 Yuan [Chinese currency, the monthly salary
for an average Chinese urban worker is about 500 Yuan]. Two
non-practitioners were persecuted and fined nearly ten thousand Yuan, and were
also detained in prison. Thirteen people gave up cultivation unwillingly, due to
extreme pressure.

More than three years have passed since the persecution began. Family members
of practitioners are also under tremendous pressure, and their human rights are
being violated as well. They and practitioners are anxious to see this disaster
end soon.